Cited by 227Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorTryptophan and brain disordersSleep and Wakefulness Research

Tryptophan depletion impairs memory consolidation but improves focussed attention in healthy young volunteers

Open access
Schmitt, Jeroen A. J., Jorissen, Brenda L., Sobczak, Sjacko, van Boxtel, Martin P. J., Hogervorst, Eef, Deutz, Nicolaas E. P., Riedel, Wim J.·2000·Journal of Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Animal and human studies have provided evidence for serotonergic modulation of cognitive processes. However, the exact nature of this relationship is not clear. We used the acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) method to investigate the effects of lowered serotonin synthesis on cognitive functions in 17 healthy young volunteers. The study was conducted according to a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design. Cognitive performance and mood were assessed at baseline and 5 and 9 h after administration of ATD. A specific impairment of word recognition, without effects on short-term memory, occurred during ATD. No memory deficits were seen if ATD was induced after acquisition of new words. The Stroop Test and dichotic listening task demonstrated a modality independent improvement of focussed attention after ATD. Fluency was also improved after ATD. ATD did not alter speed of information processing, divided attention or planning functions. These results indicate that serotonin is essential in the process of long-term memory consolidation, primarily in the first 30 min after acquisition. Improvement of specific cognitive processes by lowered 5-HT function may be linked to the removal of inhibitory actions of 5-HT in the cortex.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/026988110001400102

Cites

34 of 34 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

The text we found for this paper looks like another document, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The text we found for this paper looks like another document, so the self-check wasn’t run.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Schmitt, J. A. J., Jorissen, B. L., Sobczak, S., van Boxtel, M. P. J., Hogervorst, E., Deutz, N. E. P., & Riedel, W. J.
Affiliations
  • Maastricht University (NL)
  • Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Brain and Behavior Institute, European Graduate School for Neurosciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
Venue
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Published
2000-01
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
21-29
ISSN
  • 0269-8811 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7285
OpenAlex
W2128720831
Cited by
227
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 7
FWCI
4.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Locations
  • Journal of Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Universiteit Maastricht
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
Keywords
tryptophan depletion, serotonin, memory consolidation, focused attention, word recognition, Stroop task, dichotic listening, fluency, mood, cognitive performance, inhibitory control
MeSH terms
Adult, Affect, Amino Acids, Attention, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Problem Solving, Psychomotor Performance, Mental Recall, Retention, Psychology, Serotonin, Tryptophan, Verbal Learning, Cross-Over Studies

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review